The SVSU women’s soccer team moved to 6-5-1 after falling to Davenport and beating Purdue Northwest this past weekend.
On Friday, Oct. 6, the women lost a nail biter to the Davenport Panthers, 1-0. The Cardinals held Davenport to just seven shots – two on goal – but couldn’t find the back of the net.
“Davenport are a good side,” head coach Michael O’Neill said. “The game was frustrating, as we dominated for large spells but couldn’t put the ball in the net.”
Saginaw Valley started the game strong, earning six of its 11 first-half shots in the first 10 minutes. The Panthers were held to just three.
The best chance for a first-half goal came from SVSU’s Sakura Bals, who had her shot saved by the Davenport goalie in the 45th minute. The teams were tied at the half 0-0.
The Panthers rewrote the script after Alayna Hilgendorf found a loose ball 10 yards from the goal and placed the ball towards the low post for the first goal of the game in the 57th minute.
The Lady Cards, despite three shots on goal, could not sneak a ball past the keeper.
“It’s frustrating to dominate a team for 90 minutes and come out with nothing to show for it,” senior forward Kristin Syrowik said. “This was just another game where we were the better, more dominant team, but we left with a loss. Unfortunately, you can’t take home a win if you don’t score goals.”
On Sunday, SVSU dominated Purdue Northwest, scoring twice in the first four minutes en route to a 6-0 win. The Cardinals took a whopping 29 shots in the contest.
Senior midfielder Alexis Hilliard scored an unassisted goal in the match’s second minute, before she nailed a second goal less than two minutes later on an assist from junior midfielder Lindsay Stroebel. The goals were Hilliard’s first two of the season.
Sophomore midfielder Valentina Giambanco netted her fifth goal of the season in the 17th minute that got past the legs of the Purdue Northwest goal keeper.
Sophomore defenders Jennifer Muana and Molly Vanderhoff both added goals before junior forward Kayla Trevino capped the scoring in the 85th minute.
SVSU will continue GLIAC play on Sunday, Oct. 15, on the road against Northwood and on Friday, Oct. 20, at Ashland.
Currently, the Lady Cards stand in fifth place in the conference with four matches remaining in the regular season.
“I think our team notices the importance of the next few games,” Syrowik said. “We all want to get to the GLIAC tournament, and it’s within reach. That being said, we are all focused and ready to play our game.”
